Heatherwood West resident Lisa Hopp wasn’t the only one beaming in the hallway outside the Mill Creek City Council chambers Tuesday night, but she might have been the only one with the motherly feeling.
“I just gave birth,” said Hopp, who coordinated the annexation drive. “It’s an annexation.
“I still cannot believe it. I’m in awe and shock. I didn’t think it would be so sweeping.”
Tuesday night’s 5-1 vote by the City Council ended a 19-month effort by residents of approximately 553 acres to the north and east of the city to join the city, a move that once completed on Dec. 1 will become the largest annexation in Mill Creek’s history. Council member and Mayor Terry Ryan was absent (see separate story, this page).
The vote came in front of a packed council chambers and following two hours of staff reports examining a variety of factors that would influence the Council’s vote. Among those factors are the effects of annexation on the police department and city finances, and on the state of 35th Avenue SE. and a proposed maintenance agreement with Snohomish County for the road.
In the end, a majority of the Council members were satisfied with staff’s analysis.
“My questions have been answered,” Council member Mary Kay Voss said. “We represent those who are already in the city. That doesn’t mean we don’t pay attention to those who want to be in our city. That’s why we spent so much time making sure this would make financial sense.”
Most of the Council echoed those sentiments during discussion prior to the vote being taken. All six Council members who were present thanked city staff for their work answering the questions they had. They also welcomed the new residents.
Dale Hensley was the lone dissenting vote.
“I do welcome all the new citizens on both sides of 35th, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart,” Hensley said. “I think that it comes down to different values. The 35th Avenue thing bothers me, the agreement notwithstanding. The county created the problem and it will become Mill Creek’s responsibility.”
While approved, the annexation isn’t completely finished. It is incumbent on the city and Snohomish County reaching an agreement on maintenance on 35th Avenue SE., a road that has had problems with sinking in spots. Earlier in the meeting, city public works director Doug Jacobson told the Council that a 10-year maintenance agreement with the county agreement is nearing completion, and that city staff hope to have the deal completed before Dec. 1.
Hensley added that it would be hard for him to vote against increasing city revenues, and that he couldn’t disagree “with the logic” of voting for the annexation.
Council member Mark Bond said he hoped the annexation would have a positive impact on the city’s crime rate, since residents of the annexed area will be served by the Mill Creek police department and not the county Sheriff’s Office, which residents say doesn’t have the resources to adequately patrol the area.
Prior to the vote, Mill Creek Police Chief Bob Crannell told the Council that an analysis of the annexation showed it would not significantly increase calls and reports to the police department, based on statistics for the current city limits. To handle the expected volume of calls, the city plans to add one additional police officer in 2006 and 2007.
Bond also addressed a large contingent from the anti-Wal-Mart group Citizens for a Better Mill Creek/Thomas Lake, who have been attending Council meetings to speak out against a proposed Wal-Mart on 132nd Street SE., right in the heart of the annexation area. The store was approved by Snohomish County, and permitting for the store has taken place with the county.
“I don’t trust the county to look after our interests,” Bond said. “I think (the annexation) serves all of our interests.”
Council member John Hudgins saw the annexation as crucial to the city’s future.
“We have to grow,” he said. “This is the smartest way to grow. We’ve looked at going south, going west and going east, and I don’t favor annexation just for the sake of annexation. I’m in favor of this because it will help all the citizens of Mill Creek. To do nothing is to put our head in the sand.”
While Council member Mike Todd said the decision came down to in part supporting “the quality of life of current residents,” Mayor Pro-tem Donna Michelson said the considerations of residents in the annexation area needed to be taken into account as well.
“There are 2,300 residents who really want to be part of the city.”
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